RAWALPINDI - Pakistan Test off spinner Nauman Ali bagged four wickets to help Pakistan make a good comeback on Day 4 but the first Test against Australia heads towards draw here at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Monday.
Nauman, on a rough track, picked up well-set Steve Smith and Cameron Green in quick successions to provide Pakistan an upper hand over the visitors. Australia walked off at stumps on Day 4 after scoring 449-7. Coming back from Tea, Smith alongside Green took charge of the Australian innings. The two batters hold their nerves calm and scored 81 runs together before Nauman showed his heroics to bring Pakistan back at the business. Green scored 48 off 109 including four boundaries whereas Smith, with his reckless shot, missed out for 78 laced with eight boundaries. Smith and Labuschagne stood out firm, scoring their half-centuries as Australia were 364-4 when they walked off for Tea on Day 4.
After wet outfield delayed play and reduced overs to a maximum 67, Smith and Labuschagne came out with a plan to score runs at a quick run-rate. Labuschagne completed his 13th fifty and cruised towards his hundred but Shaheen Shah Afridi provided a breakthrough to Pakistan, grabbing him at 90. Labuschagne’s 90-runs knock included 12 boundaries. Smith remained not out despite losing Travis Head at 8 off Nauman Ali who bagged two wickets so far. Overall, Nauman bagged four wickets for 107 runs whereas Shaheen, Sajid, and Naseem bagged a wicket each for Pakistan.
Meanwhile in a virtual press conference, Pakistan Test spinner Nauman Ali talked about his performance, pitch conditions and the Pakistan team’s strategy for the final day of the opening Test. “Of course, Test cricket is about patience, and it’s a bit of a slow pitch. It was all about putting the ball at the right area and waiting for the batters to make mistakes, and patience was the key virtue of my performance,” Nauman said.
Talking about the pitch conditions, Nauman said due to the weather, the Rawalpindi pitch is wet, and the bowlers couldn’t get turn and bounce. “Earlier, we were not able to take wickets, but after consultation with head coach Saqlain Mushtaq and skipper Babar Azam, we decided to use rough patches of the pitch, which got me wickets of Steve Smith and Cameroon Green,” the left-arm spinner said and added: “Our batters did well, but Australia’s opening partnership had set the innings for them. We have taken seven wickets and will try to take early wickets on the final day.”
SCORES IN BRIEF
AUSTRALIA 449 for 7 (Khawaja 97, Labuschagne 90, Smith 78, Warner 68, Nauman 4-107) trail PAKISTAN 476 for 4 dec by 27 runs.